9 Ways to Control Your Privacy on Social Media Sites

As more people turn to the Internet to communicate and share with others on popular networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, cyber criminals are taking note, delivering new ploys through these channels -- and it's becoming increasingly difficult to navigate the Web safely, securely, and privately.

For most of us, giving up the social media sites we love isn't an option. So, what's needed to stay secure? Read on to discover the top ways that Lavasoft online security experts say you can restore or maintain your privacy on social networking sites.

1. Use Strong Passwords and Take Care When Answering Security Questions

Create complex passwords that are at least 10 characters long by mixing letters, symbols and numbers (don't simply use words that can be found in a dictionary). You'll also want to avoid reusing the same passwords for different sites -- if the password is breached or cracked, the cyber criminal would then have access to all of your accounts.

When creating passwords, think about the information that you have available about yourself online (a pet's name, your place of birth, etc.); make sure that you don't include obvious references like these as part of your password. You should also keep from including this kind of personal information about yourself when answering security questions on websites; most of these questionnaires are only used by the site to help identify you and allow you to regain access to your rightful account. Revealing the correct facts (like you mother's maiden name or the last four digits of your social security number) isn't necessary.

2. Tweak Your Account Settings, and Use Advanced Privacy Options

An imperative first step as soon as you sign up to a social media site is to check the privacy options available to you, and use any advanced settings offered. Need guidance on how that can be done? ReclaimPrivacy.org -- dedicated to promote privacy awareness on Facebook and elsewhere -- has a simple tool available that you can turn to in order to help you inspect your privacy settings and warn you about settings that might be unexpectedly public.

3. Have a Clear Understanding of What Sensitive Information is -- and Don't Share it

Always remember, once shared online, your information is no longer private. Before posting any personal information, think about how much data you want available about yourself online.

Even facts that may seem mundane to you at first glance can be valuable to scammers, who are able to mine information, and connect the bits of personal data you make available. This can be used for a variety of scams and even identity theft.

To limit the amount of potentially sensitive information about yourself -- and to limit your susceptibility to theft or abuse -- reconsider publically posting the following:

Your full name

Your full date of birth

The names of your children or family member

Your full home address

Dates and details of trips, vacations, and time spent away from home

4. Be Careful What You Click

"Don't click on unsolicited messages." You may have heard that security mantra applied to e-mail, but it pertains to social media sites as well. Always take care with surveys, giveaways, and other types of special offers that seem too good to be true.

A popular trend that security researchers are seeing on social networking sites is the proliferation of fake gift card pages and scams -- where scammers attempt to fool victims into believing they can qualify for a gift card (basically free cash) in exchange for becoming a fan of a certain page, and often clicking on a link and submitting personal information.

5. Don't Friend, Follow, or Otherwise Connect With Strangers

It's a good rule of thumb to only connect and share with people you know in real life. "Friending" strangers online opens you up to added privacy and security risks. According to a study from Cloudmark, nearly 40 percent of new Facebook profiles are fake, created by malware writers and spammers.

6. Limit Your Use of Applications and Extras (Like Games and Quizzes)

You have the ability to download and install third-party applications and various extras that work with the social networking sites you use. This can be done to add fun or functionality to your networking experience, such as playing games or personalizing your page.

Software applications that are available for download to run on the site may not undergo any type of security approval, verification, or review. These applications can potentially be leveraged by cyber thieves to compromise your information. What's more, you may be handing over private information in your profile to the applications developers when you install the new app, even if you use privacy settings.

7. Monitor Your Kids

Networking sites can potentially open up children and young adults to many unfavorable aspects of the Internet, including bullying, online predators, and cyber scams. Make sure to prepare kids with information that can help them to make safe decisions, and to have an open dialogue about safe and appropriate web use.

A new study recently showed that 48 percent of parents add their children as friends on Facebook, admitting it can be awkward at times, but they are able to learn a lot about their kids. Whether or not you go this route, know that supervising youngsters as they use the web is a must to keep them -- and your private information -- safe.

According to StaySafeOnline.org, "We don't teach children to drive by giving them the keys to the car and expecting them to be 'self-taught.' Similarly, we shouldn't let them sit down at the computer and surf away without training and supervision."

8. Have Basic Security Software in Place and Keep it Up-to-Date

Preparing your PC with anti-virus, anti-spyware, and a firewall (and making sure the software is always updated) is critical in keeping safe from malware and online scams. Additionally, make sure that your computer is up-to-date with the latest security patches.

9. Keep up With the Latest Scams and Social Engineering Trends

This is easier said than done, but a little caution and awareness can go a long way in making sure you don't fall for online ploys, which are becoming increasingly targeted and believable. Always be on guard against scams taking advantage of the latest breaking news and worldwide events; the plethora of spam and online scams exploiting the 2010 FIFA World Cup is a prime example.

Privacy and security issues are bound to continue to develop on social media sites, which means that it's critical that we continue to educate ourselves on our safety options and be vigilant about taking precautions. After all, our privacy and security on these sites -- in terms of how much we share with others and what we consume -- is ultimately up to each of us.

About the author

Johnny Widerlund is Senior Technologies Director of Lavasoft, "the original anti-spyware company." Working professionally in software development for over a decade, Widerlund's expertise lies within the areas of process optimization and agile methodologies. A member of Lavasoft's executive management team, Widerlund uses his diverse industry background to bring new focus, strength, and forward vision to the company's security software strategy.